The Agricultural Revolution

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Transcript of The Agricultural Revolution

The Agricultural Revolutiona.k.a The Neolithic RevolutionOcurred in many places all over the world at about the same time (14,000 - 6,000 years ago)The Fertile CresentHighland New GuineaSaharan & sub-Saharan AfricaChinaThe Andes Region & MesoamericaWhat was it?The deliberate cultivation of particular plants and the domestication of particular animals.Why did it occur at a specific time?The last ice age ended 16,00 years ago and the climate started to be more like it is today...The Role of WomenWomen's role in Hunting and Gathering collect wild plants so maybe they are responsible for plant domestication.As hunters, men are most likely responsible for domesticating animals.Why Settle Down?These roles lead to major changes in the status of women in the wake of the Agricultural RevolutionAs the ice age ended and the earth warmed up, people began to establish permanent villages to exploit the local area.almost always near waterPopulation increasesNow H&G won't support everyoneExperiment and innovate with agriculture to solve the "food crisis"Agriculture spread in two waysNatural diffusioncolonization and migration (sometimes violent, sometimes not)The Bantu Migration in AfricaThey brought agriculture, language & cattle raising with them (also death and conquest over the next few thousand years).Some groups never convert to farmingPastoralismA variation of the Neolithic RevolutionIn areas like Central Asia farming was impossible (or close to it).people depend on animalsalso known as nomads, herders, or pastoralists.Followed food for the animalsOften in conflict with farmers - why?Agricultural SocietiesMore food = more peopleDon't need everyone working towards food productionAllows people freedom to explore other areas/innovateLeads to technological improvements:PotteryPlowsWoven TextilesMetallurgyWheels and Wheeled VehiclesLegacy of AgricultureFundamentally changed humanityOver time many of the resources released by the Agricultural Revolution accumulated in the hands of a few.Rich and poorlandowners and peasantsrulers and subjectsdominate men and subordinate womenslaves and free peopleOccurred in highly productive agricultural settings which generated substantial economic surplusPastorialists are people who spread new technology as they interacted with settled peopleCIVILIZATION!Mix this together and you get?Point of View Introduction -- Source: Mr. Phillip Hare, AP Human Geography teacher and assistant Cross County coach, August 2014.Why would Mr. Hare make the following statements:"AP Human Geography is the best class offered at A.C. Flora High School. Every student at the school should be required to take it in the 9th grade year.""Football is a terrible game. Students are always getting hurt or horribly injured. Also, all the practice and film time really harms the academic prospects of many students".